“Really?” I gestured to the name. “That’s the name of the bar? Let me guess. Griffin named it.” “Believe it or not, that’s Luna’s dad’s name, and he owns the bar.” He pulled into a spot next to a black Navigator on my side. “And want to hear their last name? It makes it even more epic.”
I was officially afraid. Not of my life being in danger but that I would regret playing into Killian’s hand. “What?”
“Harding.” He cracked up. “His name is Dick Harding.”
I snorted. “No. Tell me he goes by Richard.”
“He does not.” He opened the door and winked. “That’s what makes it even more epic. Just a heads up, he’s Griffin’s Beta.” That was good to know.
I watched Killian move toward me, but my door opened, startling me. I’d been so caught up in Killian’s and my conversation that I hadn’t noticed Griffin come up to my car door and open it. I inhaled as that weird tug clenched inside my chest.
Griffin leaned over me and unbuckled my seatbelt. “Are you two having a good time?”
His fingers brushed my arm, and my skin buzzed. I inhaled deeply, smelling his musky myrrh and leather scent. My body warmed. What in the hell was going on between us? Maybe it was lust. That was all it could be.
Nope. Not happening. Shutting that down.
I grabbed his arm and pulled it away from me as the seat belt slid off. “Thanks, but I’ve got it.”
His hazel eyes appeared to glow, making my palms sweaty. “Hey, you’re my best friend’s girl. I gotta make sure you’re taken care of.”
“Dude, back off,” Killian said as he pushed Griffin away. “She’s mine. Go find yourself another one-night stand.”
Griffin leaned against the Navigator as I slipped from the car and took Killian’s hand. I not only was emphasizing to him that I was with Killian but begrudgingly doing it to remind myself.
A frown formed on Griffin’s face, and his shoulders drooped, making me feel guilty for holding Killian’s hand. I hadn’t done anything wrong, but I couldn’t shake the feeling.
High heels clacked on the cement as Luna’s overly ripe scent announced her arrival. She stuck out her bottom lip and glared at Griffin. “What the hell, Griff? You left me. I thought we were riding together.”
“Sorry.” His attention stayed on me. “I’ve got some things to do after this, so you needed to drive separately.”
“You could’ve told me that, and besides, I’m not busy.” She brushed a hand on his shoulder. “I can go with you.”
My body tensed at her proximity to him, but I pushed the sensation away. He could let whoever he wanted to touch him.
Griffin removed her hand. “Nope, you can’t.”
The way he dismissed her made me way too happy.
“So, while you two figure out your plans, Dove and I are heading inside.” Killian wrapped an arm around my waist and nudged me toward the entrance.
A low growl emanated from behind me, and I forced myself to keep my eyes forward and not look back to see what Griffin was upset about. If I confirmed he felt whatever this tug was between us, it would only make it harder for me to keep my distance.
“Don’t you dare walk away from me,” Luna yelled as her heels click-clacked after him. “You’re going to talk to me. What the hell is your problem?”
“Hurry, let’s get out of here,” Killian whispered close to my ear.
Griffin sighed. “Can you stop being a drama queen?”
Oh, that wasn’t smart. Calling a woman a drama queen was equivalent to calling a crazy person…
well… crazy.
“I’ll show you drama queen,” Luna whispered threateningly.
Killian and I entered the building. The bar was one large open square with a cherry wood bar in the middle of the wall to the right. Three people were working behind the counter, and it looked like they had several beers on tap along with a cabinet full of wines and liquors. Cups of varying sizes were shelved below the cabinets. Stools lined the bar, and about twenty round tables were scattered around the main floor. The walls were made of varying neutral colors of brick with booths set against them. Televisions hung in every corner of the room, but they weren’t blaring.
“I can actually hear myself think.” This wasn’t as bad as I’d expected. Between the tolerable noise level and lack of smoke, eating here wouldn’t be that bad. Well, if Griffin and Luna weren’t going to be joining us.
“This is a bar owned by wolf shifters in a mostly supernatural town.” Killian bumped his shoulder into mine. “None of us like loud noises.” Fair point.
A beautiful sandy-blonde-haired girl headed in our direction. She wore a white button-down shirt and gray slacks that matched her eyes. She was a few inches shorter than me, but she walked with such poise that she appeared taller. Her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail with tendrils framing her face. “Hey, Killian.” She smirked when her attention landed on me. “Who’s this?”
“Sierra, this is Dove.” He kissed my cheek and pulled back, gesturing to the girl. “Dove, this is Sierra. One of the few girls in town who knows how to handle both Griffin’s and my asses.”
“Handle?” She laughed. “I don’t know if I would go that far, but I gotta say, you’ve never been one to take a girl out the day after a night of passion.”
“She’s different.” He wrapped an arm around my waist. “She’s tamed my wild ways.”
“A girl after my own heart.” Sierra leaned toward me. “You’ll have to tell me your secret skills later, but for now, is it just the two of you?”
“No, unfortunately, Griffin and the devil incarnate will be joining us momentarily.” Killian shivered. “Did you bring the holy water?”
“Between her and her dad, I always have extra on hand.” “Is her dad as bad as she is?” I couldn’t imagine that.